The 10-part series is set in 1890s London, where Dracula, under the guise of business man Alan Grayson, goes in search of those responsible for turning him into a vampire.

The plot sees him fall in love with Mina Murray, played by Australian actress Jessica De Guow (Arrow). McGrath’s character will play her best friend.

Speaking exclusively to IFTN, Smurfit, who splits her time between Ireland and the US, said she was “really looking forward to working with Jonathan and Katie, I’ve heard they are both wonderful to work with”.

Cole Haddon has written the script, which Smurfit said was “very well constructed and a delicious read”. Colin Callender, Tony Krantz, Gareth Neame and Dan Knauf are all executive producers for Universal Television.

Filming on ‘Dracula’ will take place in Budapest in the coming weeks. The series is expected to air on Sky Living in Ireland and the UK and on NBC in the US this autumn.